About this project

$9,119

pledged of $6,000 goal

192

backers

Who doesn’t love lycanthropes? Bite Me! The Gaming Guide to Lycanthropes provides rules for playing were-creatures in a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game campaign—no reason a character should be benched just because she contracts lycanthropy, after all!—as well as new were types, traits, feats, and magic! The book focuses on useful information for lycanthropes for all Pathfinder campaigns, and provides specific information on lycanthropes in SpirosBlaak, a setting with a long history of Kav (lycanthrope) wars; Midgard (property of Kobold Press); Vathak (property of Fat Goblin Games), NeoExodus (property of Louis Porter, Jr. Games), and Questhaven (property of Rite Publishing).

Christina Stiles, a long-time industry veteran and award-winning writer and editor, will lead the project. Recently, she’s been a lead designer on several projects for Kobold Press, including Journeys to the West, Midgard Tales, and (replacement designer) Dark Deeds in Freeport. Newcomer Dawson Kriska (Journeys to the West) will be joining her as co-author.

We are also proud to announce that luminary game designer Wolfgang Baur of Kobold Press will be writing the book’s foreword and providing a special Midgard take on lycanthropes. Additionally, we are extremely happy to report that Dave Gross, author-king of the weres, will be writing a new short story for the book. You won’t want to miss out on Dave’s superb fiction! Artists will include Rick Hershey, Marc Radle, Peter Bradley, and Matthew Stinson—and Jennell Jaquays, if we hit our stretch goals. Finally, Spike Y Jones, editor extraordinaire, will be rounding out the team.

Reaching our goal of $6,000 makes the 96-page PDF of lycan goodness a reality, and brings us the Dave Gross short story and the weremantis mini (art below) by Eastern Front Studios (mini available for $75+-level backers)! The pdf product will be published through Misfit Studios.

ALL BACKERS OF $5 OR MORE RECEIVE THE DAVE GROSS SHORT STORY THAT IS PART OF THE $10+ PACKAGE.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bite Me! The Gaming Guide to Lycanthropes provides rules for playing were-creatures, whether afflicted, natural born, or wereblooded (lycanmarked). Players use a base lycanthrope racial template and add on abilities through a series of feats and flaws. This system ensures game balance for concerned GMs and fairness to other non-lycanthrope characters, but allows lycan-loving players to have the were-creature character of their heart's desire.

The book will include many new were breeds and new crunchy content, and it will collect available Open Gaming Content (OGC) from other sources to make this guide your go-to book for all things lycanthrope!

Thanks to Christina's experience with several Open Design projects from Kobold Press, she'll be running this kickstarter book in a similar vein, providing possible writing opportunities for those at pitching pledge levels.

Here are the project’s additional goals. The project’s deadline is for the PDF copy of the main book; some of the stretch goals may take longer to achieve:• $7000 – More Art! Jennell Jaquays creates line art for the book! UNLOCKED• $8000—MINIS & Print!—we send out softcover print copies to all donors of $50 or higher (with a skinwalker bookmark). Eastern Front Studios creates 4 more minis, to include the wereraven and werebadger. UNLOCKED• $9000 – PDF 32-page adventure included: 2012 RPG Supestar Mike Welham and Dawson Kriska write a lycanthrope adventure to be included in the bundle (tentatively as a separate pdf). • $11,000 – ADDITIONAL MINIS! Eastern Front Studios will design EIGHT more lycanthrope minis, bringing the total to 13!!! • $16,000 –We write the 48-page pdf Bite Me! The Gaming Guide to Dhampir. To be co-authored by Paizo RPG Superstar Mike Welham.• $19,000 –We SAVAGE! We convert the completed main book and all supplements to Savage Worlds to support our Savage fans!• $21,000 –We CRUSADE! We convert the completed main book and all supplements to Castles & Crusades to support Crusaders everywhere!

Risks and challenges

The primary obstacle to Bite Me! The Gaming Guide to Lycanthropes—after funding, of course—is getting it to the finish line. A lot of people (writers, developers, editors, artists, layout persons, and printers) are involved in the completion of a project like this, and for most involved, game production is a part-time endeavor. Therefore, the day job and life matters come first, so potential bumps could include team members getting hit up with everyday problems that, unfortunately, delay the project. Still, our less-than-ambitious delivery date should provide us the necessary time to overcome any unexpected hiccups. Also, note that Christina has experience with bringing books to completion, and she has access to a mentor in Kobold Press’ Wolfgang Baur, who has a great deal of experience in producing books. The authors will communicate with the patrons about any issues along the way.

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Pledge $5 or more
About $5

Dave-Sent-Me-Were: I don't care about the gaming project, but, man, that Dave Gross sure can write! I'm in because of Dave. He's just plain AWESOME! So, let's get this project going and send me a copy of the final short story ONLY.

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Pledge $30 or more
About $30

MACE: West wereplaytester: As wererat, but you get to play in a private MIDGARD Pathfinder game at MACE: West in Hickory, NC, April 5-7, 2013, run by the authors. You'll get official playtester credit in the book, plus you receive a signed copy of Journeys to the West (or Rogue Mage). Add $20 to gain werebear status, or add $45 for weretiger status. Werewolves and weresharks are already invited!

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Pledge $30 or more
About $30

ConCarolinas wereplaytester: As wererat, but you get to play in a private MIDGARD Pathfinder game at ConCarolinas in Charlotte, NC, May 31 - June 2, 2013, run by the authors. You'll get official playtester credit in the book, plus you receive a signed copy of Journeys to the West (or Rogue Mage). Add $20 to gain werebear status, or add $45 for weretiger status. Werewolves, weresharks, and Beast Friends are already invited!

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Pledge $30 or more
About $30

PaizoCon wereplaytester: As wererat, but you get to play in a private MIDGARD Pathfinder game at PaizoCon in Seattle, WA, July 5-8, 2013, run by Christina Stiles. You'll get official playtester credit in the book, plus you receive a signed copy of Journeys to the West (Or Rogue Mage). Add $20 to gain werebear status, or add $45 for weretiger status. Query with questions on pledge levels, if necessary. Werewolves and weresharks are already invited!

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Pledge $35 or more
About $35

Wereboar: Your name in the supporters' section of the book; a digital copy of the final book; access to the unedited, pre-print copy of the text to provide feedback on and to playtest (for playtest credit); access to a private Misfit Studios forum; and copies of Misfit Studios' SpirosBlaak (3.5) pdf and Spellweaver pdf or Pathfinder.

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Pledge $50 or more
About $50

Werebear: Your name in the supporters' section of the book; a digital copy of the final book; access to the unedited, pre-print copy of the text to provide feedback on and to playtest (for playtest credit); and access to a private Misfit Studios forum. You receive a softcover print copy if the stretch goal is met (free shipping in US; INTL backers will be asked to pay for shipping); and copies of Misfit Studios' SpirosBlaak (3.5) pdf, Spellweaver pdf for Pathfinder, and the Rogue Mage Player's Handbook pdf (M&M2e variant).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

Werebear of International Mystery: As Werebear for INTL customers. Your name in the supporters' section of the book; a digital copy of the final book; access to the unedited, pre-print copy of the text to provide feedback on and to playtest (for playtest credit); and access to a private Misfit Studios forum. You receive a softcover print copy if the stretch goal is met (free shipping in US; INTL backers will be asked to pay for shipping); and copies of Misfit Studios' SpirosBlaak (3.5) pdf, Spellweaver pdf for Pathfinder, and the Rogue Mage Player's Handbook pdf (M&M2e variant). SOME CONTRIBUTOR OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE.

SHIPPING WILL BE REQUESTED IF THE STRETCH GOAL IS MET FOR PRINT COPIES. NOT CHARGING YOU UP FRONT.

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Pledge $50 or more
About $50

Beast's Friend: As a werebear, but you will be attending ConCarolinas 2013 in Charlotte, NC, and want to game in Jane Yellowrock's universe, in a private game using the Rogue Mage rules. Accept a mission from the skinwalker herself (played by Faith Hunter or the lovely Jane girl), and help stomp out the vampire population. You are a lycan, of course. A Jane Yellowrock t-shirt is yours, and you receive acknowledgement in an upcoming Jane Yellowrock novel as having played in one of the Faithverses.

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Pledge $75 or more
About $75

Weretiger: $75 Your name in the supporters' section of the book; a digital copy of the final book; access to the unedited, pre-print copy of the text to provide feedback on and to playtest (for playtest credit); access to a private Misfit Studios forum; and copies of Misfit Studios' SpirosBlaak (3.5) pdf, Spellweaver pdf for Pathfinder, and the Rogue Mage Player's Handbook pdf (M&M2e variant). You receive a softcover print copy if the stretch goal is met (free shipping to US only; INTL backers will be asked to pay shipping later); You receive any unlocked miniatures, as well.

PITCHING OPPORTUNITIES: You gain the right to pitch traits, feats, spells, etc. for publication and contributor credit.

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Pledge $100 or more
About $100

Werepublisher (Size Small): FULL-PAGE PRINT & PDF ADVERTISING - You get a full-page advertising spot in our electronic download and final printing of the Bite Me! book. This ad is in b&w and hyperlinked to the site of your choice (approval necessary). We can even build the ad for you for an additional $25.

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Pledge $150 or more
About $150

Werewolf: Your name in the supporters' section of the book; a digital copy of the final book; access to the unedited, pre-print copy of the text to provide feedback on and to playtest (for playtest credit); access to private Misfit Studios forums; and copies of Misfit Studios' SpirosBlaak (3.5) pdf, Spellweaver pdf for Pathfinder, and the Rogue Mage Player's Handbook pdf (M&M2e variant). You receive a hardcover, signed print, limited edition copy whether or not the stretch goal is met (a softcover, as well, if the Print stretch goal is met). Free shipping in the US ONLY; INTL backers add $30.You receive any unlocked miniatures, as well.

PITCHING OPPORTUNITIES: You gain the right to pitch traits, feats, spells, etc. for publication.

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Pledge $300 or more
About $300

Wereshark: As Werewolf plus design your own lycanthrope to be included in the finished book--within given deadline and must meet the designers' approval; a signed, limited edition hardcover copy (2 if print goal is met). Free shipping in the US ONLY; INTL backers add $30.

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Pledge $500 or more
About $500

Wereapprentice: As Wereshark, and you may pitch to write a section of the book set aside for wereapprentices--within a deadline and meeting the designers' approval. Successful pitching provides you a front-cover credit below the main authors'--"With Freelancer's Name." Additonally, you gain Christina Stiles as a mentor for your gaming freelancing endeavors for a year. She will help you hone your craft and offer editing suggestions on your manuscripts (up to 10K per month). Plus, you receive signed hardcover copies of Rogue Mage RPG Player's Handbook, Journeys to the West, and a softcover SpirosBlaak for Pathfinder (when available). Additionally, you may pitch a future project to her. Free shipping in the US ONLY; INTL backers add $30.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $750 or more
About $750

Werepublisher (Size Large): As Wereshark. Plus, you gain Christina Stiles as a writer or editor for one project (a list of her credits available upon request). Word count for writing is limited to 40,000 words; editing word count limited to 80,000 words. She will help spread the word about your project. Plus, you receive signed hardcover copies of Rogue Mage RPG Player's Handbook, Journeys to the West, and a softcover SpirosBlaak for Pathfinder (when available). If you project is something that can be playtested at a convention, she will run it at one of her attending shows. Full-page b&w ad space in the book.

SCHEDULING FOR THE PUBLISHER'S PROJECT COMES AFTER WRITING IS COMPLETED ON THE KICKSTARTER PROJECT (estimate: June 2013). The first publisher to sign up gets priority on Christina's time. A publisher may sign up for more than one slot by doubling or tripling the amount shown.